LR Flashcards
What are the ten LR question types?
- Structural analysis 2. Sufficient Assumption 3. Flaw 4. Strengthener 5. Weakener 6. Necessary assumption 7. Parallel structure 8. Inference 9. Unexpected result 10. Apply the principle
What does it mean when a LR type is front ended?
The strategy for finding the correct answer is executed before reading the answer choices.
What does it mean when an LR type is back ended?
The strategy for finding the correct answer is executed after reading the answer choices
What is the step-by step approach to answering an LR question?
- read the question, decide the LR type 2. Insist on understanding the passage 3. find conclusion 4. analyze the argument made 5. execute FE strategy (if applicable) 6. read answers 7. do a second pass (narrow down) 8. Execute BE strategy (if applicable) 9. answer the question
What LR types don’t have arguments?
Inference, Unexpected result, and Apply the principle
Briefly describe structural analysis
one of the fundamental skill sets and one of the easiest LR types. finding the conclusion, the role that a statement plays in the argument, or main argument in dialogue between 2 people
What is the frequency of Structural Analysis?
15-16%. one of the most common
What is the strategy for Structural Analysis conclusion question type?
- find the conclusion in the argument 2. understand relations of support surrounding it
What is the strategy for Structural Analysis for roles played in the argument type question?
Focus on the claim listed in the STEM, try and answer in your head first then look at the answer choices. look for the conclusion and supports as well as the opposing view
What is the strategy for Structural Analysis for a dialogue type question?
Understand the arguments made on both sides thoroughly
What does Structural analysis often get confused with and how do they differ?
Inference. this type is fill in the blank and doesn’t have an argument whereas Structural analysis does contain an argument and is looking for you to find the conclusion
briefly describe sufficient assumption
goal is to choose the answer that tightens the argument the most. plausibility is already there, only focus on the structure and decide which answer fills the gaps in the argument
what is the Frequency of Sufficient assumption?
5-6%. low priority
what is Sufficient assumption often confused with?
Necessary assumption. answer is NEEDED for the argument to work, rather than wanted for a better argument.
Strengthener adds another independent argument, whereas sufficient assumption builds on an argument
what is the main strategy of Sufficient assumption and what tools are helpful in finding the best answer?
finding the gap in the argument
tool: the bridge, needs to make reference to both sides of ideas
briefly describe the flaw LR type
analyzing the argument and choosing the answer that makes the argument the most flawed
what is the frequency of Flaw?
15-16%. very common
what is the strategy in flaw?
all argument analysis and attempt to paraphrase the problem to see which answer matches.
what is Flaw often confused with?
Weakener. which is challenging the argument rather than finding the problem.
What are 7 potential flaws?
- correlation and causation 2. insufficient evidence 3. Ad hominem 4. shifting terms (relevance of evidence) 5. unrepresentative samples 6. part and whole confusion 7. necessary and sufficient conditions
LR mainly tests your ability to do what?
understand and think about written info
what is quantitative language?
used to describe the number of something in an argument
name some Quantitative language
some, many, most, the majority of, the minority of, all, every, none, no
what LR question types is quantitative language most relevant?
relevant for all, but especially for strengtheners and weakeners
briefly describe Strengthener.
provides you with considerations and you have to decide on the answer that has biggest effect on it and would essentially correct the argument
what is the frequency of Strengthener questions
11%. pretty common
what is Strengthener questions often confused with?
- sufficient assumption (only gaps)
- apply the principle (no argument)
- inference (most strongly supported by passage)
- unexpected result (no argument)
what is the main strategy for Strengthener questions?
decide what effect the answer would
have on the argument. is it 1. helpful, 2. harmful, or 3. neutral? choose the answer with greatest effect. make sure to recognize irrelevant answers
briefly describe weakener.
similar approach like strengtheners, except looking for the answer that hurts rather than helps
what is the frequency of weakener questions?
9%. somewhat common
what does weakener often get confused with?
flaw- the problem in an argument rather than a fact that would hurt the argument
what is the strategy for a weakener question?
same as strengthener except the correct answer is going to be the statement that hurts the argument the most
briefly describe necessary assumption.
goal is to support the claim stated. answer is needed for argument to be valid
what is the difference between sufficient and necessary assumption LR types?
Sufficient is good enough, necessary is needed.
what is the frequency of necessary assumption questions?
10%. common
what is the strategy for necessary assumption questions?
use tool: old reliable, asking “Do i need you?” then if unsure, ask “What if i didn’t have you?” if still unsure, revert to negation of the statement
what is negation in the context of LR question types?
adding “not” to the answer to make it false. not opposite, just not the term it originates of. Fire—> Not fire. Then checking if it contradicts the original claim.
What is the negation of Some?
+1 —> 0
What is the negation of many?
+1 —> 0
what is the negation of most?
> 50% —> <50%
what is the negation of the majority of?
> 50% —> <50%
what is the negation of the minority of?
<50% —> >50%
what is the negation of all?
100% —> <100%
what is the negation of every?
100% —> <100%
what is the negation of none?
0–> +1
what is the negation of no?
0–> +1
briefly describe parallel structure.
the correct answer has the same structure as the argument in the passage. there are two types, normal and flawed. every structure component must have a parallel
what is the frequency of parallel structure LR type?
6%. more uncommon
what is the strategy for parallel structure questions?
using skill: recognizing logical operators informal and formal
informal: reason, reason, reason, conclusion
formal: x -> y -> x -> y
use the piecemeal tool: if the answer does NOT have if then, knock it out immediately
briefly describe the inference LR type.
passage contains a number of related statements, and the goal is to draw a conclusion out of the statement that is assumed to be true
what are the two versions of the inference question type?
1) must be there (strong inference, no wiggle room) and 2) most strongly supported (more weak with more wiggle room)
what is inference often confused with?
-structural analysis (finding the conclusion) whereas inference is making an assumption from the conclusion.
-strengthener, as stem could ask to choose answer that best supports passage, whereas inference is mostly strongly supported BY passage.
-necessary assumption, negated answer destroys argument, where’s there is no argument in an inference question
what is the frequency of inference questions?
14%. common because they require you to think differently then other types of
explain the light strategy in an inference question
make specific connection between the answer choice and the passage
explain the heavy duty strategy in the most strongly supported type in an inference question
use the skeptics perspective (why should i believe that?)
what’s the heavy duty strategy for the must be true type of inference question
use negation on the answer choice and look for a direct contradiction
briefly explain unexpected result LR type.
presents you with a strange outcome or situation and asks to resolve and/or make sense of the strangeness
what is unexpected result often confused with?
strengthener. argument tries to persuade whereas unexpected result just clarifies a statement (no argument)
what is the frequency of unexpected result?
7%. uncommon
what is the general strategy of unexpected result?
understand the weirdness to its full extent and ask each answer “do you clear things up?” don’t rush the passage
briefly explain apply the principle question type
matching general principles with specific situations
what is the frequency of apply the principle?
5-6%. uncommon but watch for conditional logic
what is apply the principle often confused with?
strengthener. has argument looking to add to it the effect. apply the principle doesn’t consider the effect or any arguments
what’s the strategy for apply the principle?
all relevant parts in the principle and situation must match up
